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New data program helping Nebraska farmers be efficient with water management

A west-central Nebraska farmer says a new water data program is helping farmers get a better understanding of their water usage.

Joe Wahlgren, with the Twin Platte Natural Resources District, says the program gathers data via a virtual water meter, using power records and flow meter numbers.

“Combine those two and I can give you a real look at what all your pumps are pumping on a daily basis,” he says.

He says the data can be grouped to show usage levels from other regional producers.

“That helps to temper or to educate myself to how I am watering,” he says. “Am I vastly overwatering what this average is and why would that be? It lets me compare with my peers a little bit.”

Wahlgren is hopeful that a state database will eventually be available.

I would hope that there’d be some way to normalize it and make it available, but a lot of times it’s just going to be used by the producer and that’s about it,” he says.

There is no cost to producers to sign up and producer information is protected in the reports.